Monday, March 10, 2008

Things are a'changin'

Thre was an Immigration meeting last week here in San Miguel with the new "sub-director" and others. The financial requirements have gone up for people to get their FM-3, which is the next step after a Tourist Visa. In the past the amount was much much lower, originally like $600 a month and it is now $1,240 a month (250 times the annual income of a Mexican citizen). You can get your original FM-3 either at a Mexican Consulate office in the USA, as I did in 24 hours, OR here. It costs about $140 for the first one and then it must be renewed each year with again, proof of income and other documents. The cost is about that much each year. After being here 5 years, if one feels they are going to live here permanently, then they can apply for "immigrado" status and get an FM-2. This requires proof of income of $2,078 a year - (400x the annual income of a citizen of Mexico)! YIPES. In addition, one is limited on how much of the time one can be out of Mexico and may no longer drive a US plated car. I'm sure there are many other things I'm not aware of.......the GOOD thing is once you have your FM-2 for 5 years you do not need to reapply each year - hence after 10 years in Mexico if you do your FM-3 for 5 and your FM-2 for 5, you're here free and clear with no need to prove anything........

I guess all the artists and retirees who came down here with $600 or less a month to live in Mexico are "up the creek" as they say............sad and disappointing. I know many of them.....a loss for Mexico and us.

7 comments:

billow said...

How sad! What will happen to all those gringos who don't have an income of $1200/month? Will they have to leave the country? Can they find another place without the stringent rules?

I think that the artist you met when we were in SMA falls into that lamentable category.

Bill O.

Babs said...

Well, I know many who go back to the border every six months and renew their tourist visa. They ride the bus up, cross, and get a NEW tourist visa and then ride the bus back.........I would think if you just didnt do anything, no one would ever catch you unless you were in a car accident or involved in a crime..........BUT it would be something to worry about all the time.
PS Don't anyone CLICK on the second email - that's that guy who spams you and messes up your computer!!!!

Steve Cotton said...

Babs --

Have you tried deleting the two offending posts? You can do that by going into the edit posts mode, click on the comments section. The comments will appear -- each with a garbage can icon. Click the icon and send the post to oblivion.

Babs said...

Geez, thanks Steve! I'll do it and one of these days I'll learn how to "add links", "categorize" AND figure out the site meter which keeps sending me a report saying -0- people have read the blog! (You CAN tell I'm not technical.........)

Babs said...

Steve - I clicked on "Edit Posts", then clicked on comments BUT no "garbage can" came up and when I hit "delete" it asked if I wanted to "delete the post".........

Steve Cotton said...

I am not certain what to advise. The only way I can delete comments is by clicking on the trash can icon. I suspect that if you choose delete the post, you wll delete the full thread -- the post and the comments.

picklesandroses.blogspot.com said...

Oh geez...but can you blame them? Considering that we don't know what the immigration regulations are going to be for coming into the US? Makes one think (like urban renewal programs) where are these folk going to go? Artists need to have a cheap place to live. Well, not just artists!